Graduating Students
Finishing your studies and preparing for professional practice as a counsellor can be a busy time. Seeking a professional designa- tion is one of the many things that are com- mon to add to a “to do” list at this time, amid finishing studies and job hunting. Regardless of what your plans are regarding obtaining a license or professional designation, I strongly encourage you to document and store as much information about your education and training as possible, including but not limited to: course syllabi, transcripts, practicum logs, evaluations, and references. You never know if, in the future, you might decide to seek a designation or be required to obtain a license to practice! Many graduates find it easiest to scan and save the information on a cloud drive where it takes up little space, and can be easily accessed in the case of a reloca- tion or even natural disaster like flooding or a house fire.
Spring is a busy time for CCPA’s Certifica- tion program as well; with the influx of recent graduates seeking certification for the benefit of clients and employers, not to mention for themselves, keeps our office very busy! I suggest, if you are interested in certification with CCPA, start putting some thought into your application before you graduate, and apply as soon as possible to avoid the rush of applicants. There are some common ques- tions we are asked by graduating students contacting us about certification:
Can I start applying before I finish my de- gree?
An applicant’s training is not considered to be complete until they have been awarded their degree. However, the applicant may still be able to apply for certification. To do so, the applicant should ensure that his or her tran- script indicates that the grade and credit were awarded to all courses required for certifica- tion, and in addition provide a letter from the counselling program’s director or University Registrar confirming that the applicant has successfully completed the program require- ments and indicate the date on which the degree will be awarded.
Should I wait to accumulate all of my docu- ments, or send them in one-by-one?
Applicants can either send their documents one-by-one, or accumulate them and send everything together. CCPA will start an appli- cation file once the first document is received, and once all required documents arrive, the file will be sent to the registrar for evaluation. Applicants are contacted by the Certification Co-Ordinator if she notices any concerns or issues with a document.
How can I tell if my documents were received and if my file was sent for evaluation?
Applicants can sign on to the ‘Members Only’ section of the website and view their profile. Under the certification tab, it will indicate the date on which each document was received and processed at CCPA’s office. Once all documents are received, the file will be sent to the Registrar for evaluation, and a date will appear next to the “Date sent to Registrar” field.
How long does the application and evaluation process take?
It can take anywhere from four to six weeks from the date your file was sent to the Regis- trar for your file to be evaluated. During peak application times, the evaluation can take the full six weeks. CCPA strongly encourages applicants to ensure that all documents are completed in full and all required documenta- tion (especially course descriptions for each course) is provided in order to minimize the evaluation time.
In Summary
Pursuing graduate studies in counselling can be one of the most fulfilling yet onerous times in a counsellor’s career. Ultimately, you are the one responsible for your career’s direc- tion, and for ensuring that your education and training gives you access to the career path you desire. If the ‘Canadian Certified Coun- sellor’ (or any other) designation is a part of your career path, it’s important that you make the time to be informed about the profes- sional requirements in order to effectively navigate your studies and ensure that you will be eligible for professional designation upon your graduation. CCPA is always available to answer your questions about certification and regulation in order to assist you through this process. Best wishes!
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